My attention has been diverted from eco-tourism to hostel building. I think this is a progressive step, as building a hostel within the valley would be the most appropriate first step in creating exposure for Kalu Yala.

Like most people, anything new is exciting to me, so despite being “at work,” I was enthused to be a part of a new project. After a bit of research, I was brought back to earth, realizing that it would take “real work” to penetrate a well-defined, competitive market.

I came to a standstill after asking that oh-so pertinent question, “What do we have that they don’t?” -Please note, for the purposes of this blog I am referring to hostels found in wilderness areas, the majority of which concern my research being located in Central America. – Many of the activities offered at hostels are not outside of our reach, but without these activities already being established within the valley, the scope of such a project is mind-numbing.

A meeting with the boss-man, Jimmy, alleviated many of my concerns. His confidence that the idea will work did more for my morale than anything else. It wasn’t until I finally left Hispania (our condo) to get some fresh air that I had a moment of enlightenment. I kept asking myself, “What do we have to offer in the valley,” where nothing is built, nothing established except for wilderness and a waning dispersal of herding pastures? It hit me… what is not in the valley is the very resource that will make a hostel possible, popular, and potentially profitable.

Unlike the majority of “adventure” or outdoor activity-based hostels found throughout Central America, or better yet the world, Kalu Yala enjoys hundreds of acres of privately owned land (with thousands of acres currently under option contracts). Additionally, this acquired land abuts the Chagres National Park and other government protected sanctuaries (the natural kind…not that of clergy). Essentially, this provides us with the unique opportunity to serve as a wilderness outpost of sorts.

Then came the much needed quasi-epiphany: what we don’t have in structure and coordinated activities is the essence of what we can offer. The product we offer is the opportunity to camp, hike or explore thousands of acres of Kalu Yala terrain or the National Parks who share our borders. Once in Kalu Yala’s Valley, travelers can enjoy the amenities of a vivacious, state-of-the-art hostel, prepared to accommodate all camping/hiking/equestrian/biking/exploring needs, including tents, cooking equipment, safety gear, etc.

Words like freedom, exploration, individuality…or even true adventure come to mind. These all seem to embody the ideals of the most hardcore segment of backpackers, and creating a hostel that will serve as “the last outpost” for the most adventurous backpackers has obvious marketing qualities. I can see it now…

“…for those who seek the freedom to embark on a self-tailored jungle adventure, where the possibilities are second only to the vastness of the forests…” -Or something like that…-

Thanks for fighting your way through this compilation of scattered thoughts in reflection of a week of brainstorming (about establishing a hostel in Kalu Yala’s Valley). I’ll be back soon to give y’all a more organized and specific rundown on this business venture once I’ve met further with my co-collaborators, John Cook and James Walsh, as well as other members of the staff.